The Power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-21)
Gary McManus, 05/15/2016Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
May 15, 2016 Pentecost Sunday
(the birthday of Jesus’ church)
Acts 2:1-21 (p.1078 / p. 1091)
including Joel 2:28-31 (p.902 / p. 911-2)
For today also see Acts 1:6-9
Pentecost
The Greek word Pentecost simply means
50 days. The Jewish festival is called “Weeks”
and celebrates the giving of the commandments
on Mt. Sinai. Fifty days refers to fifty days after
Passover. Passover is a lunar holiday based on moon
phases and since Pentecost depends on Passover,
Pentecost is never on the same day every year and
it is not celebrated on the same Sunday every year.
Pentecost was also tied to the wheat harvest (See
Leviticus 23:15ff., Numbers 28:16, Deuteronomy
16:9-12). It does explain why there were Jews from
all over the Mediterranean present in Jerusalem at that time.
ALL the believers present that day received
the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 1:8, Acts 2:33 and
in fulfillment of Joel 2, mentioned/ repeated in 2:17.)
[Then, later, clearly the Holy Spirit is given to
BELIEVERS: Acts 2:38, Acts 4:31, Acts 10:44,
Acts 20:23, ]
Superman has super powers.
Would they help us today?
The gift of the Holy Spirit is called a power
. . .powerful. . .
See Acts 1:8
YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER. . . .
Power was DEMONSTRATED (Acts 2:6-7).
See also Romans 15:13, 15:19
THIS power is mighty to save.
. .this power is mighty to fight the
battles of the 21st century.
Power enough
. . . to declare the mighty acts of God
to an unbelieving generation or to a
heathen nation like ISIS.
. . . in the fight against zigra or any disease.
The first three Americans to contract
Ebola were health workers with
Christian missions like Dr. Kent Brantly
was serving.
At Pentecost people heard in a language
that they understood. (Acts 2:6-7)
Your stated language is English but maybe
another language would communicate:
-- the language of TIME. . .
-- the language of Friendship / Compassion
-- the language of acts of kindness
This power is also yours.
The Holy Spirit is yours for a purpose
—that others may HEAR the mighty acts of
our awesome God.
mentioned in today’s message
cru.org
samaritanspurse.org
Centers for Disease Control website: Ebola cases
during the outbreak, 3,151 confirmed by a laboratory
and 4,806 deaths.
From HIV/AIDS epidemic to the Ebola crisis in
West Africa, Christian relief groups like Catholic
Charities, SIM USA, Samaritan’s Purse, Medicus Christi
— among others— have been building and maintaining
health centers, clinics, hospitals, patient education campaigns
and providing ongoing care to those who need it most.
Volunteers for these missions and countless others have
been risking their own health and safety because God has
called them to use their skills and talents to help others.
The power of the Holy Spirit!
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